By Elias Abayomi Adagunduro
The impacts of Former Lagos East Senatorial District Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asipa Kaoli Olusanya in the last forty years in Ibeshe kingdom in Ikorodu have earned him new leadership title ditto his wife Oluwakemi as the duo will be installed this Saturday December 28, 2024 as Asiwaju and Yeye Asiwaju of Ibeshe Kingdom respectively under the leadership of His Royal majesty Oba Richard Abayomi Ogunsanya, the Olubese of Ibeshe kingdom.
According to a press briefing organised in Ibeshe prior to the coronation, Newsconnect reports that the position of Asiwaju of Ibeshe land is a prominent position, a position of authority. It is a position which requires leader of sound mind to occupy.
The emergence of Asipa Kaoli Olusanya as the Asiwaju of Ibeshe Kingdom according to a former Commissioner for Rural Development in Lagos State Prince Lanre Balogun is not by accident, he said his antecedents overtime earned him the new leadership role.
In an interview with newsmen at the press briefing, Lanre said Asipa and himself were opportuned to have served during the second term of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he was the Governor of Lagos State.
In his words , he said;
“He has been doing this for quite a while, as you can see he is embraced by the entire community.
“We’ve been in the same Political alignment close to thirty years. He has been very consistent to the cause of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we were opportuned to have served together in the same cabinet of Lagos State during the second term of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“This position of Asiwaju of Ibeshe Land is a very very important position. A position of authority. A position that bestowed on you to make rational descions a leader of a particular community and its environs.
“I wish him all the best of luck and I know that he will do very well”.
In the same vein, Aarebirin Honourable Princess Dr Folashade Olabanji Oba, National Chairman Association of Local Government Vice Chairman of Nigeria and The Executive Vice Chairman Ikorodu Local Government posited that Asiwaju Kaoli is a distinguished leader per excellence, hence she is confident he will not rest on his hoax with the new title.
In an interview with Newsconnect at the press briefing she said;
“I am here to celebrate one of the quintessential leaders of all time. For us, he has not just been a leader, he has been a father, a mentor, a role model per excellence.
“A life transformer, when you hear what he was saying, he is talking about four decades of impacting in this community.
“He could have been in exotic places considering the resources at his disposal, but he has chosen here, to add to the values of the people around him. He is a people’s person, passionate and empathetic”.
“I am hopeful Ibeshe kingdom would leverage on his socio-cultural and Political influence as the new Asiwaju. I wish him good luck”. She said .
Asiwaju Kaoli Olusanya while addressing journalists at the press briefing, among other things opined that when electricity is stable, when there is road networks, housing availability, good education, free movement,Nigerians would find their feet. Nigerians would blend in to challenge oneself to make contribution to the wealth of the nation.
“The type of nation we want, must come from contribution of all in Nigeria and there must also be an enabling environment.
“We need infrastructure. We need road networks. From Sabo Market to Itoikin, we can have four lanes.
“That road was built and commissioned several years ago by General Yakubu Gowon. In terms of durability, the lifespan of that road has expired. Now we have the President that is part of us and we are part of him.
“We want to push to him that the road to Itoikin should be make into four lanes. You can imagine the business transformation that will happen when that is fixed.
“In terms of population, commerce, business and moving around, we need a flyover at Ogolonto perhaps another one at Agric so that it will minimize the waste of time on the road, it will make community very easy.
“When the President was Governor, he gave us Egbin, the first IPP that was brought to Nigeria was done by Mr President when he was Governor.
“Wth this new leadership position as Asiwaju, the scholarship, the opportunities in Nigeria we enjoyed in education, in job when we were in the age of these young persons is what we will continue to put on the front burner ” he said.